Carpal tunnel biopsy is a test in which a small piece of tissue is removed from the carpal tunnel (part of the wrist).

Alternative Names:

Biopsy - carpal tunnel

How the test is performed:

The skin of your wrist is scrubbed and injected with medicine that numbs the area. Through a small cut, a sample of tissue is removed from the carpal tunnel. This is done by direct removal of tissue or by needle aspiration .

Your doctor may ask that you not eat anything for a few hours before the test.

For infants and children, the physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age and experience. For specific information on how to prepare your child, see the following topics:

If the biopsy indicates abnormalities of the carpal tunnel, your health care provider may suggest the carpal tunnel release procedure. Your provider may also recommend more surgery to fix or improve the abnormality.